Dallas Zoo
Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie
Reunion Tower
Go on an urban safari just south of downtown Dallas and discover wildlife from around the world. The zoo is home to the only koalas in Texas, along with kangaroos, lorikeets and more from Down Under. The 11-acre Giants of the Savanna showcases elephants, lions, giraffes and other favorite African species.
This horse-racing track and entertainment destination in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Grand Prairie has two live racing seasons each year: The Spring Thoroughbred Season runs from early April through mid-July an the Fall Meeting of Champions runs from early September through mid-November. It hosts races such as the annual Lone Star Million Day – a series of six stake races with a total purse of more than $1 million – and it was also the location for the Breeder’s Cup in 2004. During the summer, enjoy fireworks, live music, and many more special events almost every weekend. Holding nearly 8,000 racing fans, the enclosed air-conditions grandstand is the best spot to place your bet and cheer on your favorite horse.
Recently ranked in The Dallas Morning News: Guide “Top 10 Jaunts of 2013,” a visit to the Reunion Tower isn’t just about seeing what’s below from hundreds of feet in the air. It’s about expanding your horizons. The GeO-Deck has something for everyone – the foodies, the fashionistas, adventure seekers or sightseers. Think you’ve seen it all? Experience the interactive Halo today, and experience this fantastic view of Dallas.
650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas 469.554.7500
1000 Lone Star Parkway, Grand Prairie 972.263.7223
Dallas Arts District
dallaszoo.com
lonestarpark.com
This rare gem is the largest arts district in the nation, encompassing 68 acres and 19 blocks. Arts venues include the AT&T Performing Arts Center, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Crow Collection of Asian Art and Trammell Crow Center, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. An urban green space built over Woodall Rogers Freeway serves as an inviting gathering place for Dallas and its visitors.
Ice Skating Center at the Galleria
McKinney Avenue Trolley
2200 Ross Ave., Dallas 214.744.6642
galleriaiceskatingcenter.com
ATTRACTIONS GENERAL ATTRACTIONS Dallas Arboretum The Dallas Arboretum, among the most renowned and impressive gardens in the country, offers an array of popular annual events, musical performances and educational programs for children and adults. Stroll amongst the spectacular flora and fauna blooming in season located on the southeastern shore of Dallas’ White Rock Lake. 8525 Garland Road, Dallas 214.515.6500 dallasarboretum.org
thedallasartsdistrict.org
Dallas Farmers Market One of the largest outdoor markets in America, this is where the locals go for the freshest produce grown in Texas. The market provides a unique shopping opportunity that also offers specialty and international products. 1010 S. Pearl Expressway, Dallas 214.664.9110 dallasfarmersmarket.org
Dallas World Aquarium
This unique indoor ice skating experience is located in the middle of one of Dallas’ premier shopping centers, surrounded by hundreds of stores, shoppers and restaurants. Skaters can take a lesson, have a party, or just go for a spin at the coolest ice rink in town. 13350 Dallas Parkway, Dallas 972.392.3361
John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza This tribute to an extraordinary man was dedicated in 1970, and in the years since, it has become an integral part of the city’s urban landscape and cultural heritage. It is located one block east of Dealey Plaza, between Main and Commerce streets, on land donated by Dallas County. The memorial, a square, roofless room, 30 feet high and 50 by 50 feet wide, sits in the middle of the block with narrow openings facing north and south. The walls consist of 72 white pre-cast concrete columns, most of which seem to float with no visible support 29 inches above the earth.
One Arts Plaza
646 Main St., Dallas 214.747.6660
Klyde Warren Park
1801 N. Griffin St., Dallas 214.720.2224 dwazoo.com
The 5.2-acre deck park, designed by The Office of James Burnett, is an urban green space built over the recessed Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul streets in downtown Dallas. Klyde Warren Park serves as a central gathering space for Dallas and its visitors. Come enjoy this highly active space, providing daily free programming for the public ranging from yoga to book signings to outdoor concerts and films. The park is privately operated and managed by the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas 214.716.4500 klydewarrenpark.org
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D A L L A S H OT E L M A G A Z I N E
3153 Oak Grove Ave., Dallas 214.855.0006 mata.org
jfk.org
This colorful aquarium near the historic West End District is home to an array of vibrant marine life. A unique display of flora and fauna from five continents, 14 countries, three oceans and numerous seas and rivers offers a glimpse at some of nature’s most beautiful creatures.
The M-Line’s air-conditioned and heated restored vintage trolleys run 365 days a year, providing safe, clean, reliable, and convenient public transportation free of charge (except charters) in Dallas’ vibrant Uptown Neighborhood. A ride on one of the trolley cars provides a unique and charming opportunity to experience this historic, upscale district.
The $125 million multi-use structure is the first of three buildings on over 10 acres at the eastern edge of the Dallas Arts District that is prominently located at the eastern end of Flora Street. It is a focal point of the entire district and provides an urban oasis for those who live, work and visit the area. Adorned with dynamic fountains, it comes alive with five restaurants, live music and outdoor entertainment. 1722 Routh St., Dallas 214.451.0313 oneartsplaza.com
Pioneer Plaza In 1995, the Texas Trees Foundation dedicated Pioneer Plaza to the City of Dallas providing a focal point with historical significance for downtown Dallas. It commemorates Dallas’ beginnings by celebrating the trails that brought settlers to Dallas. The site features native plants and trees and a flowing stream in a natural setting and a re-creation of a cattle drive in bronze with longhorn steers being driven by three cowboys on horses, made by artist Robert Summers of Glen Rose. Visitors often come here for photo-ops. Corner of Griffin and Young Streets, Dallas 214.953.1184 visitdallas.com
300 Reunion Blvd. East, Dallas 214.712.7040 reuniontower.com
Southfork Ranch No visit to Dallas is complete without making the pilgrimage to the scenic ranch northeast of Big D that is the home for the fictional Ewing family of the popular, long-running television series, Dallas. Visitors can experience the opulent lifestyle made famous by the Ewings, see where the show was filmed and view show memorabilia. The original series ran for 13 seasons and in 2012, a new Dallas show was introduced, featuring familiar characters and a new generation of Ewings. Southfork is now a premier special events and meeting destination for reunions, holiday parties, corporate retreats, training sessions and more. 3700 Hogge Road, Parker 972.442.7800 southforkranch.com
MUSEUMS Amon Carter Museum of American Art The museum in Fort Worth’s cultural district houses one of the nation’s preeminent collections of American art, from early 19thcentury expeditionary art to mid-20th-century modernism and contemporary photography. The museum is also home to nearly 400 works by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, two great artists of the American West. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth 817.738.1933 cartermuseum.org
Crow Collection of Asian Art
The 12,000-square-foot museum includes four light-filled galleries that house selections from the permanent collection including a widely acclaimed array of Chinese jade. The Crow also features touring exhibitions from Japan, India, China and Southeast Asia. 2010 Flora St., Dallas 214.979.6430 crowcollection.org